Upper Dublin Public Library celebrates end of renovations

UPPER DUBLIN — Upper Dublin residents may soon be stopping by the library to check out more than just books after the curtain was pulled back on the nearly completed renovations at the facility.

The Upper Dublin Public Library held the “Look How Far We’ve Come” open house for the public Jan. 26 to officially celebrate the end of construction inside the complex. The event was also held to ask for donations to reach the $100,000 goal needed to finish renovations. The library has so far raised $90,000.

In November, the library launched a fundraising initiative called UDPL — ReNEWed! to help cover the costs of modernizing the library. The renovations include a new conference room, a new teen/young adult area, new staff offices, a new circulation desk, a new information desk and a new quiet reading lounge. The library is now in the process of updating some of the furniture and other decorations to keep with the times.

Visitors to the library were given maps in order to take self-guided tours of the updated facility and see the new improvements. In addition, they could purchase books during the two-for-one book sale. There was also a special story time with children’s librarian Barbara McNult in the children’s picture book area for families to sit and listen.

Elmer Heiland, executive director of Fort Washington Estates, also presented a donation to Fiory along with Haggard; Robert Stutz, fundraising chairman; Janice Klosterman, head of Fort Washington Estate residents’ association; and Rader.

Fiory then welcomed everyone to the open house and explained that construction inside the library is officially over. She thanked everyone for their patience during the renovations. Fiory said while construction may be finished, the library still has some extra work that needs to be done and emphasized that the target goal is to raise $100,000 and the library has so far raised $90,000. The estimated total cost for the construction is $250,000, which is covered by the township, while the Friends of UDPL will cover the additional interior updates.

Barbara Wasserman, president of the library board, thanked everyone for coming and using the new facility.

“I want to thank Cheri for the vision that really transformed this library into a space that looks so much bigger, somehow by magic,” she said.

Wasserman then thanked the staff for continuing the high level of service during renovations and the fundraising committee for almost reaching the target goal “to furnish the new spaces with furniture that doesn’t look like it came from your mother’s attic.” She further thanked Stutz for all of his hard work.

“Hi, I’m here to ask you for money,” Stutz jokingly said as he addressed the crowd.

He kidded that Fiory, in addition to acting as director, is now the library’s interior decorator as they move forward with refurnishing the library.

Afterward, everyone celebrated the project by cutting a cake that had the UDPL — ReNEWed! logo.

The library is also holding two events to support the continued improvements with guest speaker Mike McGrath, writer of “The Seven Secrets of Successful Gardening”and host of the radio show “You Bet Your Garden,” speaking Feb. 18 from 7 to 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $7 for Friends of the UDPL members and $10 for non-members.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell will also be holding an event at the library to promote his book “A Nation of Wusses: How America’s Leaders Lost the Guts to Make Us Great” March 20 from 7 to 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale for $10 for Friends of the UDPL members and students with I.D. and $15 for non-members.